Semaphore signal



May 4,1926. 1,583,344;

A. DURAN SBIAPHORE SIGNAL Filed Sept. 25. 1923 s Sheets-Sheet; 1

sa l I I 62 I i May 4, 1926. 1,583,344

A. DU RAN SEMAPHORE SIGNAL Filed Sept. 25, 1923 5 Shet S-$h66t 2 May 41-926. 1,583,344-

A. DURAN SEMAPHORE SIGNAL Filed Sept 25, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 41926.

A. DURAN SEMAPHORB SIGNAL Filed Sept. 25, 1925 5 'Sheets-She6 5 .v Igmntoc d-Lrlura win.

) Toall whom it may concern: 7

Patented May 4, 1926.

ARTURO DURAN, or SAN. NTONIO, TEXAS, ASSiGNdR or ONE-HALF rro j JAMEs M.

1,583,344 j UNITED STATES? PATENT OFFICE.

DWYER, or SAN ANTONIO, Texas.

SEMAPHORE SIGNAL.

Application filed September 25, 1923. Serial 110-664,?63. I

Be it known that I, ARTURO DURAN, a citizen of Mexico, residing at SanAntonio, 1n the county of Bexar and State of TeXas,have

'5 invented certain new and useful Improvements in Semaphore Signals, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signals, and has special reference tosemaphore signals, of the type used to control traffic on street cornersand other similar places. a

- More particularly the invention relates to improvements in thesignalling semaphores such as'are'illustratedin the patents previouslygranted to me, and bearing the Numbers 1,406,625 and 1,434,050. In thesepat.-

ents, there is disclosed a semaphore standard located at a streetintersection, and carrying,

at its top a signal device operable by the passage of vehicles overcertain platforms located at the street corners. The semaphore used isof the common stop-stop, go-go type, and normally sets in the neutralposition, being turned by the passage of an automobile, say in awesterlydirection, to cause the stop-stopblades to face north and south,and stop the north bound. traflic. In the patents above referred to, noprovision was made for-retarding the return of the signal to neutralposition, but just as soon as the car "leaves the plaform, the signalswings back to neutral.v This of course is aptto cause confusion andproduce-a collision.

One important object of the present invention is to provide an improvedsemaphore arrangement of the type disclosed in the aforesaid" patentsand to have, in this improved arrangement, means for retarding thereturn of the signal toneutral position. A secondimportant object of theinvention is to provide an improved semaphore signal having anadjustable controlfor the retarding means. g f

A third important object of the invention is to provide, in asignalas-above described, means for instantly releasing the platform mechanismupon the signal being'set.

A fourth important object of the inven-" It is to be noted that this isan important feature since it is seldom that traffic on inter;v

secting streets is uniform. j 7 1th the above and other objects inviewas will be hereinafter apparent, the-inven tion consists in generalof certain novel details of construction "and combinations of partshereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing and specifically claimed. A

'In the accompanying drawing like characters of reference indicate likeparts in the several views, and: v

Fig. 1 is a general proved device. a I

Fig. 2 is a view showing the interior mech: anlsm at the lower part, thecasing being. shown in section. I 'Fig. 3 is a section on -'Fig. 4 is anenlarged detail section on the line4.%1ofFig.2. Fig. 5 is a detail viewof the dial used in; setting the retarding device.

Fig. 6 is a detail section 1;

elevation of the I im;

the line 3+3 of hrough a certain lock mechanism in its normal orunlocked position.

Fig. 7 is a .view similar to Fig. 6 showing the parts in lockedposition.

8. is a detail'view showingth used to set tion. v a a Fig. 9 is a viewsimilar to Fig.8 withthe parts in a second position. 1 I

the retarding device in; one posi- Fig. 10 is a detail section onthe-{line 10 10 of Fig. 9.

Figure 11, is a sectional viewtaken along the line 11 of Figure 6. a a

. Figure'12 is a section view taken along the line 1212 of Figure 17 IFigure13'is a top plan view of a portion of the retarding device; I v

. Figure 14: is an enlarged view of a latch reversing device and itsoperating means. a 1

Figure 15 is an enlarged view taken-along the line 1515 of Figure 10 andshowing the latch in an operative position. Figure 16 is a view similarto Figure 15, showingthe latch in a releasing position.

Figure 17, is a view of astreet' crossing equipped with this signal. 7

In the present embodiment of the invention, there is provided. a casing10, having a hollow base 11 and extending upwardly from this casing is atubular standard'lQ carrying on its upper end a signal head 13 havingthe usual semaphore blades 14 and lamp 15. These semaphore blades andlamps are carriedon a hollow shaft 16 which is provided with a foot stepor thrust bearing 17 at its lower head, located in a hollow boss 18formed centrally of the bottom of the base 11. Just above this bossthere is fixed on the shaft 16 a collar 19 having projecting arms 20 towhich are pivotally connected the pull chains 21 which pass out of thebase, being guided by suitable idler pulleys 22. These chains go to theplatforms 22 as described in my prior patents. Moreover, the usualsprings 23, such as are also described in such patents are employed tomaintain the arms 20 in such position that the signal is normallyneutral, that is to say, with its blades 14 diagonally across the streetintersection. Vithin the casing 10 is supported a spider or ring 24,depend ing from which are pairs of guide standards 25. Between each pairof guide standards slides a lug 26 formed on a counterweight 27 which isnormally urged downward by means ofa coil spring 28 bearing'on thecounterweight, and on the underside of the spider 24. Centrally of thespider or ring 24 is a tubular boss 29 and centrally of thecounterweight is a tubular member 30 having a rack 31 carried on oneside in a suitable slot 32. This rack 31 is arranged to mesh, uponelevation of the counterweight, with a gear 33 which in turn meshes witha pinion 34, fixed on ashaft 35 carrying a crank 36. In the upper partof the casing 10 is mounted a cylinder 37 which is open at its bottomend and in which moves a piston 38 connected to the crank 36 by a pistonrod 39. The pinion 34 is secured on the shaft 35 to rotate therewith inone direction by means of a ratchet clutch 40 of the usual springpressed type. Thus, when the weight 27 is elevated, the, parts are soarranged that the pinion 34 may rotate freely without moving the piston38. In the upper end of the cylinder 38 is an angular air passage 41controlled by a needle valve 42. This needle valve carries at its upperend a beveled gear 43, which meshes with a beveled gear 44 carried on asetting stem 45, having a key receiving aperture 46 in its upper end,and carrying a pointer 47 which traverses a dial .48 divided to indicateminutes and fractions thereof.

In the operation of this part of the ap paratus it will be noted thatupon elevation of theweight 27, no movement of the piston takes placebut, as the weight 27 descends the piston moves in its cylinder, and therate of this movement is controlled by the opening or closing of theneedle valve, the setting of this valve being in turn controlled by theposition of'the hand or pointer 47. Thus, it is possible to set the timerequired for the piston to drop from raised position to its lowermostposition, at any desired quantity by simply adjusting the needle valve.f V

VVithinthe base 11 is fixed a spider 49., and above this spider on theshaft 16 is fixed a disk 50 having lock notches 51 formed in itsperiphery, these notches being in opposed pairs, the disk thus forming aratchet movable with the signal. 'At the lower ends of the guide bars 25are slides 52 carrying pins 53, which are connected to pins 54 on thecollar 50 by springs 55. The slides 52 are slot-ted as at 56, and inthese slots are anchor portions 57, each pivoted on a pivot pin 58, andprovided with arms 59 for engaging in thenotches 51. These anchorportions thus form pawls and have their outer ends formed as hollow cams60, and each of these cams receives a pin 61 extending downward from arack bar 62 slidable in a suitable guide, portion formed in the slide orbase 52. It'is tobe observed that the pins 53 pass through slots 63 andare screwed into the respective anchor members. Pivoted between theguides 25 is a segment 64 having aninwardly extending arm 65 carrying aroller 66 which lies beneath the counterweight 27.

Now considering the operation of this part of the mechanism, it will beseen that as soon as the shaft 16 rotates the disk 50 rotates therewith,and due to the action of the springs 55 onthe pins 53, the anchormembers are pulled into respective notches 51 and there held, the cams6O acting upon the pins 61 to move the racks 62 inwardly andswing thearms 55 upwardly thus raising the rollers 66. When the weight descendsit strikes these rollers and imparts movement to the arms 65 whichforces the rack 62 outwardly, and releases the anchor lug 59 from itsengaged notch so that the springs 23 may then restore the .parts. 4Fixed on the shaft 16 below the spider 49 .is an interrupted orsegmental wheel 67, having grooved peripheral portions 68 centrally ofwhich are secured the ends of chains 69 leading around guide pulleys 70in the base 11, and over guidepulleys 71 at the upper ends of the guides25, remaining ends of said chain being secured to lugs 72 on the weight27. These chains are not fixed permanently to the center of the segment68, but there is employed a sliding trip device movable around theperipheral portion 68 and including a strap 7 3, which fits over saidperipheral portions and carries a pin 74 normally fitting in a notch inthe center ofthe respective segment 68, the pin being held in the notchby means of a coil spring 7 5 mounted within the straps The ends of thepin 74 project above and below the strap so as to engage the guidemembers 76 which are carried by arms 77 projecting from a collar 78revolubly mounted on the shaft 16. These arms also carry theworm racks 79 wherewith mesh worms 80 driven by a gear train, a portion of which isshown at 81 from a shaft 82 controlled by hand wheel 83, and having alug or jamb nut 84:; By this means the trips 76 can be shifted totheright or left, and thus insures release of the pins 7 a from the notchesin the segment 68' sooner or later'than the normal release in accordancewith the direction of rotation of the shaft 16, thus enabling the deviceto be set for different times of exposure'of the stop signal'to onestreet or another. In operation the movement of a vehicle across aplatform draws on one of the chains 21 thus moving arm 20 to one side orthe other and thereby moving the segmental wheels 67. Since the straps73 are, at the start of the operation locked to the segmentsof the wheel67 the chains 69 will lift the weight27 and thus movement will continueuntil the ends of the pins74 strike the trips 7 6 whereupon the strapswill be released from the respective segments and the Weight 27 willstart to fall since these straps can now move along the segments.Meanwhile the arm 20 will have been locked in position by the mechanismshownbest in Figurest and 7 "'Ihus the semaphore will have been turnedand remain turned until the weight, descendingslowl'y'because of theaction of the dash pot,

ing which the sema-phore'remai'nsset may vary in accordancewith the stopsignal be-. ing displayedfor one street, or the other. I There has thusbeen provided a simpleand efficient device of the-kinddescribed andforthe purpose specified} 1 v a It is obvious that minor changes maybe madein the form and construction of the invention without departing from thematerial spirit thereof. It' is 'not, therefore, wished to confine theinvention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it isdesired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

is claimed as new, is: V

1. In a street crossing semaphore, a shaft carrying a signal device,means! to operate said shaft from a. remote station to set the signal,spring means tending to restore the signal to neutral position, aratchet moving Having thus described the invention, what with thesignal, a pawl engaginglthe ratchet,-

trip means for releasing the pawl and including a member actuated tomove from normal position upon setting of the signal and movableindependently of the signal movement to return to normal, and means toretard the return of said member to normal position.

2. Ina street crossing semaphore, a shaft carrying a signal device,means to operate said shaft from a remotestation toset the signal,spring means tending to res-torethe signal to neutral positioma ratchetmoving with the signal, a pawl engaging the ratchet, trip means forreleasing the pawl and including a member actuated to move from normalposition upon setting or' the signal and movable independently of thesignal movement to return to normal, means to retard the return of saidmember to normal position, and a regulating device for the retardingmeans. 7 7 r p 3. In a street crossing semaphore, a shaft carryingasignal device, means "to operate said s'haft from a remote station toset the signal, spring means tending to restorethe signal to neutralposition, a ratchet moving with the signal, a pawl engaging the ratchet,trip means for releasing'the pawl and in eluding a trip releasingmemberactuated to move from normal position upon setting of the signal andmovable independently of the signal movement to return to normal, anelement moving with said signal, a grip oper'atively connected to saidtrip releasing member to move the same from normal position andreleasably gripping the element, and releasemeans in the path of thegrip for freeing the same from said element 4. In a streetcrossingsemaphore, a shaft carrying a signal device, means to operate said shaftfrom a remote station to setthe signal, spring means tending to "restorethe signal to neutral position, a ratchet moving with the signal, a pawlengaging the ratchet, trip means for releasing the pawl and in cluding atrip releasing member actuated to move from normal position upon settingof the signal and movable independently of the'si'gnal movement toreturn to normal, an element moving with" said signal, a gripoperatively connected to said trip releasing member tomove the same fromnormal position and releasably gripping. the element, release means inthe path of the grip for freeing the same from said element," and adjusting means connected to said release means for regulating theposition of said re lease means and connected thereto.

5. In a street crossing semaphore, a shaft carrying a signal device,means to operate said shaft from a remote'station to set thesignahspring means tending to restore the signal to neutral position, aratchet moving with the signal, a pawl engaging the ratchet, trip meansfor releasing the pawl and ineluding a tripreleasing member actuated tomove from normal position upon setting of the signal and movableindependently of the signal movement to return to normal, an elementmoving with said signal, a grip opera tively connected to said tripreleasing memher to move the same from normal position and releasablygripping the element, release means in the path of the grip for freeingthe same from said element, and means connected to the trip releasingmember to retard the return of said member to normal position. I

6. In a street crossing semaphore, a shaft carrying a signal device,means to operate said shaft from a remote station to set the signal,spring means tending to restore the,

signal to neutral position, a ratchet moving with the sign al, a pawlengaging the ratchet, trip means for releasing the pawl and including atrip releasing member actuated to move from normal position upon settingof the signal and movable independently of the signal movement to returnto normal, an element moving with said signal, a grip operativelyconnected to said trip releasing member to move the same from normalpositionand releasably gripping the element, release means in the pathof the grip for freeing the same from said element, adjusting meansconnected to said release means for regulating the position of saidrelease means and connected thereto, and means connected to the tripreleasing memher to retard the return of said member to normal position.

7 In a street crossing semaphore, a shaft carrying a signal device,means to operate said shaft from a'remote station to set the signal,spring meanstending to restore the signal to neutral position, a ratchetmoving with the. signal, a pawl engaging the ratchet, trip means forreleasing the pawl and including a trip releasing member actuated tomovefrom normal position upon setting of the signal andmovableindependently of the signal movement to return to normal, an element moving with said signal, a grip operatively connected to said tripreleasing member to move the same from normal position and releasablygripping the element, release means in the path of the grip for freeingthe same from said element, means connected to the trip releasing memberto retard the return of said member to normal position, and a regulatingdevice for the retarding means.

8. In a street crossing semaphore, a shaft carryinga signal device,means to operate said shaft from a remote station to set the signal,spring means tending to restore the signal'to neutral position, aratchet moving with the signal, a pawl engaging the ratchet, trip meansfor releasing the pawl and including a trip releasing member actuated tomove from normal position upon setting of the signal and movableindependently of the signal movement to return to normal, an elementmoving with said signal, a grip operatively connected to said tripreleasing member to move the same from normalposition and releasablygripping the element, release means in the path of the grip for freeingthe same from said element, adjusting means connected to said releasemeans for regulating the position of said release means and connectedthereto, means connected to the trip releasing member to retard thereturn of said member to normal position, and a regulating device forthe retarding means.

9. In a street crossing semaphore, a shaft carrying a signal device,means to operate said shaft from a remote station to set the signal,spring meanstending to restorethe signal to neutral position, a' ratchetmoving with the signal, .a pawl engaging the ratchet, trip means forreleasing the pawl and including a trip releasingmember actuated to movefrom normal position upon setting of the signal and movableindependently of the signal movement to return to normal, an ele mentmoving with said signal, a grip operatively connected to said tripreleasing member to move the same from normal position and releasablygripping the element, release means in the path of the grip for freeingthe same from said element,a dash pot having a bleeder opening, and apiston moving in said dash pot and having connection with said tripreleasing member, to retard the tion. I

10. In a street crossingsemaphore, a shaft carrying a signal device,means to operate said shaft from a remote station to set the signal,spring means tending to restorethe signal to neutral position, a ratchetmoving with the signal, a pawl engaging the ratchet, trip means forreleasing the pawl and ineluding a trip releasing member actuated tomove from normal position upon setting of the signal and movableindependently of the signal movement to return to normal, an elementmoving with said signal, a grip oper atively connected to said tripreleasing member to move thesame from normal position and releasablygripping the element, release means in the path of the grip for freeingthe same from said element, adjusting means for regulating the positionof said release means, a dash pot having a bleeder opening, and a pistonmoving in said dash pot and having connection with said trip releasingmember to retard the movement thereof in one direction.

11. In a street crossing semaphore, a shaft carrying a signal device,means to operate said shaft from a remote station to set the signal,spring means tending to restore the movement thereof in one direc-.

signal to neutral position, a ratchet moving with the signal, a pawlengaging the ratchet, trip means for releasing the pawl and inveluding atrip releasing member actuated to move from normal position upon settingof the signal and movable independently of the signal movement to returnto normal, an element moving with said signal, a grip operativelyconnected to said trip releasing member to move the same from normalposition and 'releasably gripping the element, release means in the pathof the grip for freeing the same from said element, a dash pot having ableeder opening, a piston moving in saiddash pot and having connectionwith said trip releasing member to retard the movement thereof in onedirection, and a needle valve regulating the escape of air from saidbleeder opening.

12. In a street crossing semaphore, a'shaft carrying a signal device,means tooperate said shaft from a remote station to set the signal,spring means tending to restore the signal to neutral position, aratchet moving with the signal, a pawl engaging the ratchet,

trip means for releasing the pawl and including a trip releasing memberactuated to move from normal position upon setting of the signal andmovable independently of the signal movement to return to normal, anelement moving with said signal, a grip operatively connected to saidtrip releasing member to move the same from normal position andreleasably gripping the element, release means in the path of the gripfor freeing the same from said element, adjusting means for regulatingthe position of said release means, a dash pot having a bleeder opening,a piston moving in said dash'pot and having connection with said tripreleasing member to retard the movement thereof in one direction, and aneedle valve regulating the escape of air from said bleeder openin I3,In a street crossing semaphore, a shaft carrying a signal device, meansto operate said shaft from a remote station to set the signalspringmeans tending to restore the signal to neutral position, a ratchetmoving with the signal, a pawl engaging the ratchet,

trip means for releasing the pawl and including a trip releasing memberactuated of the signal and movable independently of the signal movementto return'to normal, an element moving with said signal, a gripoperatively connected to said trip releasing member to move the samefrom normalposition and releasably gripping the element, release meansin the path of the grip for freeing the same from said element, a dashpot having a bleeder opening, a piston mov-.

ing in said dash pot and'havin'g connection with said trip releasingmember to retard the movement thereof in one direction, the connection,including a ratchet device permitting said member to move freely in theother direction independently of the piston, said ratchet device furtherpermitting movement of the piston independently of the trip releasemember for restoring the piston to normal position.

14. In a street crossing semaphore, a shaft carrying a signal device,means to operate said shaft from a remote station to set the signal,spring means tending to restore the signal to neutral'position, aratchet moving with the signal, a pawl engaging the ratchet, trip meansfor releasing the pawl and in cluding a trip releasing member actuatedto move from normal position upon setting of to move from normalposition upon setting 7 the signal and movable independently of thesignal movement to return to normal, an

element moving with said signal, a grip operatively connected to saidtrip releasing member to move the same from normal position andreleasably gripping the element, release device permitting said memberto move freely in the other direction independently of the piston, said.ratchet device further permitting movement of the piston independentlyof the trip release member for restoring the piston to normal position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ARTURO U AN.

